Cold soil means a slow spring garden

Despite the relative
mildness of this winter, the soil
temperature (and
thus the spring garden) is actually a smidge behind last year's
conditions. I suspect that last winter's heavy coat of snow
insulated the soil surface, and that this year's clouds worked in the
opposite direction to make the soil colder than it normally would have
been.

No matter what the
cause, I only planted my first unprotected garden seeds yesterday ---
breadseed poppies. I would normally have planted some early peas
too, but the earth hasn't warmed to 40 degrees yet, so there's no
reason to let my seeds rot in the ground.

Despite the cold spell
this past weekend, lettuce is up and running under the quick
hoops --- I hope to
be able to pick some in two or three weeks. Meanwhile, the onions
I seeded inside came up thickly. About the same time I'm picking
the first spring lettuce, I'll be teasing the seedlings apart and
setting them out in their final garden home.

Want
to be notified when new comments are posted on this page? Click on the
RSS button after you add a comment to subscribe to the comment feed, or simply check the box beside "email replies to me" while writing your comment.

Hi! We just ordered your chicken waterer package. We only have 6 chickens but figure it can't hurt to have 2 waterers in the coop and one outside it during our hot summers. Can't wait to finally have this poop-free water you've been talking about!

Also wanted to let you know that the raspberries and blackberries you gave us at the Organic Grower School last year are doing fantastic. We actually got a handful of raspberries last season, too (or rather, our daughter did).

It's interesting to hear about your soil temperature findings. We don't have snow down here much any year, but none so far this season. Most of our soil temp conversations revolve around when to expect the morels, though.

Justus --- I should have included a link in the post. Breadseed poppies are the ones you use to grow poppy seeds for baking. There are lots of ornamental poppies you might be referring to when you say "regular poppy flowers". The ones I've grown are the bright red Shirley poppies, but I think people often also grow California poppies, and some perennial poppies.

Eliza --- Thanks so much for buying our waterers (and for your congratulations)!

I'm so glad to hear the brambles did well for you, although I'm not at all surprised. They should take off this year!